NTL CROSS-COUNTRY: TROY'S PARKS EARNS STATE MEDAL (2024-11-03)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
HERSHEY — The fourth time is the charm for Troy’s Alyssa Parks, as the Trojan senior finally got on the state podium with her 15th place finish during the Class A girls’ race at the PIAA Cross-country Championships Saturday.

This was Parks’ fourth time running at states, with plenty of near misses over the years, but this year she firmly ran in the medals from start to finish, ending with a time of 20:26.

“I love it,” Parks said. “The feeling is amazing.”

She got off to a fast start, sitting in eighth overall at the 800 meter mark. She slowly fell back during the race, getting as low as 18th at the 2-mile, but then got a second wind during the final mile loop, working her way up to 17th with 1,000 meters to go, before getting the final two places for a top 15 finish.

Getting out fast was a big part of the game plan this time around.

“The previous years I have been trapped in a big group, and I couldn’t do what I tried to do,” she explained. “I just figured I’d have to go for it - whatever happens, happens.”

The hills during the second mile have been to known to wreck a few races, but Parks did a good job weathering those before pushing the final mile.

“It really hurt but I just knew if I wanted that medal I would have to keep pushing myself,” she said.

Her team did a good job helping her keep tabs on her spot, and that motivated her to push during the final mile, which is when it started to sink in she was finally going to get that medal.

“I just kept running, stayed there, and just felt amazing,” Parks remarked. “You can’t beat the feeling, it’s just totally amazing.”

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PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING

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